Our judge Karen Hull had a tough job ahead of her when she got to judging our online exhibition this year, I could see as the entries were coming in that as she is personally involved in supporting the ACPN that she would evidently know many of the artists and had seen many of the artworks already so it would be hard for her to judge. Also having had Karen’s support for all these years and I know that she would have put that all aside and judged the artworks on their own merits and just for clarification she was not given the names of the artists at the time of judging.

Overall we had 15 entries in the Just Pencils category and in the 12 Mixed Media category. I will put my 2 cents in to say I would have hoped we had a few more entries overall, but I would like to thank all of the artists who put themselves forward and entered their artworks and supported  coloured pencil art by doing this. I think you will agree that its a lovely mix of works we have and the representation that these are Australian Artists is well received in this collection.

Mixed Media Entries 2014

Just pencils Entries 2014

Karen did a fabulous job of commenting on each artists work and these comments will be  forwarded to each individual artists rather than make them all public but i have included Karen’s comments on the winners below and Karen has said:

at the end of the day I have gone with the piece that really spoke to me the most.

So, without further ado here are the winners including that of the Peoples Choice Results below.

The winner for the Just Pencils category is:

Michelle Ripari

Artwork Title: Death of Gum Tree

Michelle Ripari

Artist Statement:
I feel such sorrow when bushfire ravages the native flora and fauna. Yet with death comes life and rejuvenation. I was so intrigued by this massive and majestic gum tree that was aglow with hot embers and smoke, after bushfire ravaged the Kinnards Wetland near Numurkah, Victoria. This incredibly unique and beautiful tree was fighting to live. I was so touched that I was compelled to draw my first landscape drawing.

Website: http://artbymichelleripari.wordpress.com/ 

Karen’s Comments

A moving and dramatic piece that beautifully conveys the contrasts of the Australian Bush under siege from fire. The intensely warm colours at the heart of the fire are full of life and action and the cooler, more neutral colours of the bush already burnt evoke a sense of lifelessness and stillness. A truly emotive piece of artwork.

The winner for the Mixed Media category is:

Sandra Temple

Artwork Title: Night Watch

Sandra Temple

Artist Statement:
As I didn’t want to use black paper, I used and airbrush to cover the dark sky and masked out the moon. The owl itself is in Faber-Castell CP and the work is done on illustration board.

Website: http://www.sandratemple.com 

Karen’s Comments

Superb combination of mixed media that seamlessly creates a sense of drama and atmosphere.
The detail and shading of the owl alone is exquisitely rendered, but the addition of the cloudy
moon works so well with the haunting expression of the owl to create a truly memorable artwork.

The winner for the Peoples Choice is:

Karina Griffiths

Artwork Title: Just Another Day In The Paddock

(70 votes)

Karina Griffiths

Artist Statement:
Prismacolor pencil, Art Sectrum ColourFix light blue coloured paper, Teptic photography, A3 size. 8.5 hours. This was a ‘quickie’ by my general standards! I was working with paper I hadn’t used before, and found that I just couldn’t layer or use solvent with it, so I basically had to keep it gestural and draw! Never thought cows would be so funny……they’re really funny when you have to really stare at them

Website: http://karinasfineart.com

Results of the Peoples Choice Voting was:

Karina Griffiths – 70 votes – Winner

Susan Robjant – 57 Votes

Jenny Ras – 30 Votes

Terry Jackson , Michelle Ripari – 27 votes.

Congratulations to the winners and thankyou to our sponsors ArtHouse Direct who will be supplying the prizes and help make this exhibition possible.